Good Friday*

Good Friday is special to me. Barbara and I were married on Good Friday in 07. But that is not what I want to talk about. Good Friday is on the calendar because of what happened over 2000 years ago. Jesus died on a cross for my sins and yours. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” John 19:10-11   2000 plus years ago Jesus stood before the civil authority at that time and Pilot says to him, don't you know I have the power to release you or to crucify you?  Jesus answered you have only the power given to you by God above.  Jesus knew why he was going to the cross. He was innocent of any crimes worthy of death. He was going to the cross because God ordained it to pay for your sins and mine. There had to be a blood sacrifice to pay for our sins. It is the way a Sovereign God chose to bring sinful man back to himself. If there is one thing Christianity is hated for, it is this doctrine. We believe this is the only way back to God. If there was another way than Jesus did not need to die on that cross. If there was another way we could choose that way instead of the cross, but there is no other way. Jesus knew the cruel death he was facing and he prayed in the garden, let this cup pass from me, but not my will but thine be done. Jesus did it because there was no other way. You cannot just live a good life and make it to heaven. You cannot do enough good works to earn your salvation. There is not enough money in the entire world to buy your way in. The only way to God and eternal life is through Jesus and the cross. We had a Good Friday service at Hope Church Tupelo and I want to share a photo:


During a song the choir was singing, five pair of two painters each pained the pictures above during the song. I wish I had taken an earlier picture showing them painting. Jesus was fasten to a cross by nails or spikes as the red spots indicate in the pictures and a crown of thorns was placed on his head when he gave his life for our sins so many years ago. Jesus is the only way. Jesus death on a cross paid for our sins, all of them. There is no other way. There is no religion that will save you from your sins.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16  Jesus is the only way. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John 3:18 Sin must be paid for, Jesus paid the price a long time ago. If we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of our hearts and lives, our sins can be paid for. You cannot just live a good life and make it to heaven. All have sinned, and sins must be paid for by a blood sacrifice. Jesus was that sacrifice. That is the way God in heaven ordained. Pilot didn't send Jesus to the cross. God did, it was preordained by God for your sins and mine. God bless, LVZ.